IRL: Phoenix test day one report

Brack, Kanaan settle in at Phoenix test.

PHOENIX, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003 -- Kenny Brack and Tony Kanaan each moved closer to understanding their new IRL IndyCar Series rides during testing Jan. 27 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Brack, who won the 1998 IRL IndyCar Series title and the 1999 Indianapolis 500, tested a Miller/Pioneer Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Team Rahal, while IndyCar Series newcomer Kanaan tested a Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Andretti Green Racing.

"Everything is going pretty well," Kanaan said. "We spent a fair bit of time making adjustments in the cockpit and getting settled in. We need to spend all the time we have right now figuring out what this car likes and what it doesn't, and how Andretti Green Racing can use each on-track session to give us more information than the last."

Brack, who has four career IndyCar Series victories, returns to the series full time in 2003 after spending the last three years in CART. Kanaan has one career IndyCar Series start, at the 2002 Indianapolis 500, where he started fifth and led 23 laps before finishing 28th after an accident in Turn 3 on Lap 89.

Both Brack and Kanaan will test again Jan. 28 at PIR before participating in the Indy Racing League's Test in the West, which will be conducted Feb. 3-4 at California Speedway and Feb. 6-8 at Phoenix.

"I have to say I'm pretty happy," Kanaan said. "We still have things that need to be worked on, but overall we've got a good starting point heading into Test in the West."

The IndyCar Series season starts with the Toyota Indy 300 on March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Copper World Indy 200 will be March 23 at Phoenix International Raceway. Both races will be broadcast live on ABC and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.

For ticket information for the season opener at Homestead, call (305) 230-RACE or visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com. For tickets to the Phoenix event, call (602) 252-2227 or visit www.phoenixintlraceway.com.

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